MORALE SHAKEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 December 1942, Page 4

MORALE SHAKEN

RETREATING GERMANS IN TRIPOLITANIA

THINK ROMMEL HAS LEFT THEM.

WEATHER RESTRICTING AIR • OPERATIONS.

(By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day. 12.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 30. Rommel has abandoned the line of the Wadi el Kebir, which was regarded as his best potential defence line before Misurata. Advance units of the Eighth Army are hard on the heels of the Germans, who aie now hurrying on to the Wadi Zcmzem. According to German prisoners, a belief'is spreading among Rommels troops that he has left them and gone elsewhere, probably to Tunisia. This is shaking the morale of the German troops, who have great confidence in Rommel. Apparently the German commander h?.s not been in any area near our advanced troops since he was nearly caught by the New Zealanders outflanking movement at the Wadi Matratin. . Our forward troops sail find mines, but these are scarcer, while booby traps are more numerous, probably because they are less cumbersome and easier to set. . Bad weather is making the organisation of new forward airfields difficult. Consequently air activity continues to be restricted. The weather is expected to remain bad until the end of Ja nu " ary, which is usually the wettest month of the year.